06/04/09

Save Your Money!!!!!!

by Hotcherri

I love a great mani/pedi and always on the hunt for a great nail salon. I read about Dashing Diva and was intrigued by all the great review in magazines. I have passed Dashing Diva on many occassions but never thought about going in. It just looked to animated and cutesy for me. Not my idea of a relaxing spa experience.

Again, intrigued by the magazine reviews I decided to try it out. I have had many mani/pedi from various nail salons from the Bronx (where I live) to Manhattan and Brooklyn. I have had really good services and bad services. I am a pro (most women are) at what a great mani/pedi is.

So, I go on a Sunday and it was pretty empty. I chose my color and waited a couple of minutes. My manicurist was not very friendly and only fake smiled a few times. She did not pay attention to my cuticles as listed in the menu of services. The best thing about the pedicure was the 10 minute massage that I paid an extra $15. The manicure was just plain awful. She barely pushed back in cuticles. She got much friendlier when it was time for me to pay. I'm thinking this is tip time.

Cut to the chase, the nail polish is cheap. My nails beganing chipping the next day. Not a little chip but totally chipping off. Prior to writing this review I removed the nail polish only to find that the polish stained my nails. Not happy at all.

Bottom line, try if you want to but for me it was not worth it. Will not be going back. I have paid less for way better service.

• Pros: Walking distance to shopping and dining
• Cons: Expensive, Not a comfortable atmosphere

03/08/09

Fabulous Nails

by sweetvixen385

A few things about this salon stood out to me. First and foremost it's extremely hygienic. You get your own pedi/mani pack opened right in front of your face, they don't use jacuzzi pedi tubs, as they harbor bacteria, they use a antibacterial hand-wash on clients and technicians, and everything (towels etc..) are warmed to a bacteria killing temperature before being placed on your skin.

The quality of the mani/pedis is outstanding. My brother gave me a gift certificate for my birthday. The treatments included were "Dashing-Diva Manicure", which was great and the "Spoiled Diva Pedicure." The Spoiled Diva Pedicure set the bar for phenomenal pedicures. It was the most relaxing, invigorating soothing pedicure I've ever received. I'd highly recommend that treatment. My feet are as soft as a baby's. My nail technician was polite and meticulous. She expertly applied my polish, rid my nails of cuticles, and shaped my nails perfectly. On top of that she gave me the best leg, foot and hand massage.

I wish I would have tipped her more, but unfortunately money is VERY tight for me right now. The polish still looks great, my only complaint is that the polish takes FOREVER to dry. My nails were under the UV dryer for 30 minutes.

• Pros: cleanliness, skill, politeness
• Cons: nail polish takes forever to dry

01/25/09

Great for bachlorette party

by trimiami

I had 6 girls go for manis and pedis for my sister's bacheloretter party. I called in advance a few weeks and very easily reserved a time. We were attended to right away and had the whole pedicure section to ourself. We brought champagne and plastic glasses and cookies appropriate for the occasion and had a great time. The decor is very pink, and very cute.

• Pros: decor, service
• Cons: none

11/23/08

The WORST bikini wax ever ever!

by nycWoman3

DO NOT WAX HERE!

At first glance Dashing Divas seems so pretty and sanitary but this is not so. I went there this afternoon for a semi-bikini wax (which I was told was $35). The first thing she did when I got in was grab a pair of huge, unsanitized industrial scissors (the kind you use to cut heavy cloth materials!!) and trimmed the area. The only reason I didn't stop her was because I froze in horror. She then proceeded to wax and stopped after a short while and said she was done. When I looked down it was practically still all there and not shaped up at all. I had to tell her to take more off and also do the backside. oh and she didn't wear any gloves.Long story short...when I went to pay the bill was for $62 when I was told it was 35$. They said I had done a full brazillian which I hadnt and then they said it was a $10 extra charge for the back! After I argued with him a bit he cancelled the credit transaction and re-charged me for a semi-wax instead of full. To top it off the lady was basically breathing on me to give her a tip. So i was charged twice on my card and am now overdrawn! DO NOT GO HERE FOR WAXING OR AT ALL FOR THAT MATTER!!! IT WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!! MESSED UP MY SUNDAY!

• Pros: NOTHING!
• Cons: EVERYTHING!

06/10/08

Very happy with French polish

by rhapsodyblue

My friend and I ended up at the Dashing Diva on Memorial Day. I was very happy with the service and final product at Dashing Diva. I got a manicure with a French polish. The lady who was doing my nails was very thorough and precise with applying the French polish. My only comment is that the lady chose the base color, sheer pink. I would have preferred a sheer light beige color instead. The polish lasted only a week before it started to chip and wear away which is fine and I think typical (i don't normally get manicures). I thought the price was fair for the French polish. I would go back there again.

• Pros: thorough and not too expensive
• Cons: did not pick my own base color for the french polish

04/15/08

DO NOT LET THEM DO YOUR EYEBROWS!

by Erinyc

DO NOT LET THEM DO YOUR EYEBROWS!

I am generally an easygoing person and would only write this type of 'negative' review under extreme circumstances. I was in the shop this afternoon, which I previously had no problems with, and the person who waxed my eyebrow took the entire outer half of my eyebrow *OFF*! I am not making this up...I hadn't had any problems before-- in fact, the other 3-4 times I'd been there, they had done an excellent job. I won't be going back.

That being said, they seem to be fine for nails, especially the Virtual Nails, and the service is excellent for the price. Just heed my warning about the eyebrow waxing...

02/10/08

Good, solid manicure

by downtowngirl37

I have never had a problem at Dashing Diva, both with regular manicures and with the Virtual Nails that they offer. I have only had to wait 15 minutes max for a seat and I have always been treated well. Their Virtual Nails are a bit pricey ($35 for a fitting, application and manicure), but I can really only see them being practical for people who want nails for a short-term special occasion. They lasted a long time (almost two weeks!) and I got lots of compliments. A regular manicure is $15 and I think that for this price you get a really nice manicure. I know that you can go to other "salons" in the city and get a manicure for $7, but the quality and cleanliness just isn't there. My manicures last a really long time, not showing the slightest chip until at least 3 days in. Even at that they still look great! Finally, I love that they offer a student discount! 10% off never hurts my broke college student wallet!

• Pros: Good manicure, nice atmosphere

01/21/08

Will never go there again...Not happy with my gel nails AT ALL.

by shahnaz1972

Much more expensive than what it's worth; terriblly ignorant regarding hurting the skin they do while buffing; no real hand message - it was rather a rub! Gel nail is an art and not everybody can do it. They have sculpt my nails each in differnt shape and form than the other! The French tips are horribly inconsistent and irregular, too. They wanted me to bring them back the buff next time!

• Pros: Nothing!
• Cons: Pricy with no value, not professional, not skilled.

01/18/08

great place, prepare to wait no matter what..

by bkker

I really like this place, the way it looks, whole place smells nice and clean...but it is such a hassle to go past the counter. One day you go they say you have to make an appointment, next time you call to make an appoinment, they say they dont accept appointments for short treatments, one day you have the approved appopintment you go, they tell you although you have the appointment they dont keep it , you have to wait until somebody is available.

If this keep repeating itself I am seriously considering not to step into this nice salon. What a pity..

09/09/07

cute place, great service, relaxing, perfect mani and pedi

by elisemischief

what i like about the dashing diva are the hours and the nail polish selection, as well as the nice atmosphere. they make all their own manicure products, which work well, and they have 150 polish colors to choose from, for every kind of taste and mood. i never go to a nail salon expecting to get relaxed, but that is exactly what happens when i go to the dashing diva. when i am there i feel as if i am escaping for a bit, because the place is so quiet and nicely decorated and the staff is very calm and friendly. you don't get the sense that they are rushing you out of there at all. i like their spacious, hot pink terrycloth pedicure sofas bedecked with pillows -- they are so much nicer than the weird brown pleather chairs that other places have. i also like the fact that they have sinks where your feet don't touch the bottom -- a nice touch for those who don't like the usual whirlpool tubs. and my mani and pedi always turn out perfect -- smoothly polished and nicely shaped nails, and the polish is nice and thick and lasts more than the average cheap manicure. and they do offer something above the regular nails and waxing places that permeate manhattan. they are a little more expensive, but a basic manicure there isn't just about your nails -- they exfoliate and moisturize the skin on your hands and forearms and infuse the scrub and the lotion with a scented oil of your choice -- lavender and eucalyptus are the ones i remember but they have two more scents. their dashing diva oil at the dryer counter is a great product -- not like the essie oil most places use, it dries and hardens the polish but doesn't make your fingers and toes all oily. altogether a very nice complete experience.

• Pros: wonderful atmosphere, calm staff, super nice products for manis and pedis
• Cons: a little pricey if you go to the nail salon once a week like i do